Mini Diorama Water Worlds

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To create the Arctic, pour about an inch of water into a plastic, freezer-safe container and freeze. When ready to use, remove the ice by setting the container in a sink of warm water for a few minutes, then turning it upside down to let the "glacier" fall into your hands. Place the glacier in a dishpan. Surround with crushed ice if you want some "snow." Add plastic or rubber Arctic creatures to play with.

To create the Tropics, pour about an inch of warm water into another dishpan. Add a drop of blue food coloring, some plastic palm trees, rocks and shells, and rubber or plastic tropical fish and animals.

Use both mini-worlds to talk about the concepts of hot and cold and the animals native to each region. You and your child can pretend to be off on an Arctic adventure or an exotic tropical vacation. Visit the library or the bookstore together to find out more about these two contrasting habitats.

What You'll Need

Two dishpans

Plastic freezer-safe container

Crushed ice (optional)

Warm water

Blue food coloring

Plastic or rubber animals and sea creatures

Plastic palm trees

Rocks

Shells

Learning and Growing

Your child is just starting to engage in fantasy play, and this game is a wonderful way for him to feel in control of his own small world. Imaginative play is very healthy for a child who wants to test new ideas and experiment with relationships.

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